Chain conveyor



c. suLL CHAIN CONVEYOR Nov. 18, 1958 Filed Sept. 24, 195'? w VE/V TOR CHESTER SULL ilnited States Patent CHAIN CONVEYOR Chester Sull, Parma, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 24, 1957, Serial No. 685,955

2 Claims. (Cl. 74-254) This invention relates to a chain conveyor and more particularly to that type of conveyor in which a plurality of center links are located between and connected by means of pairs of side bars. This type of conveyor chain is shown in Mullen Patent No. 2,664,993, dated January 5, 1954. Pins having elongated heads extend between each pair of side bars through an elongated opening in the center link. I have found that when proper tension is maintained in the chain it is practically impossible for the pins to work free from their positions in notches in the side bars. However, in long chains in particular, there will be loss of tension in the chain due to wear of the parts. When this occurs, especially in those chains where the pins are in a vertical position, the pins work free from the notches and drop out of the links. This takes place adjacent the sprockets when adjacent center links will turn almost at right angles to the connecting side bars. free themselves from the notches since the center part of the center link is of less depth than the end portions.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a chain of the type described in which the pins cannot work loose.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a chain conveyor having parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chain conveyor of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the chain; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring used in my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates longitudinally spaced center links which are connected by means of side bars 4 and pins 6. Each of the center links 2 consists of a wall 7 forming an elongated opening 8 having semi-circular ends 10. The ends 12 of the wall 7 are deeper than the intermediate portion 14 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each of the side bars 4 has side walls 16 with a transverse notch 18 at each end thereof. A central web 20 connects the side walls 16 so that an opening 22 is provided at each end of the side bar. End 24 of each opening 22 is semi-circular. Each of the pins 6 has an elongated head 26 at each of its ends. The side bars 4 extend between and overlap the ends of adjacent center links 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A pin 6 extends In this position the pins can "ice through the aligned opening 8 and 22 with its heads 26 in the notches 18. A leaf spring 28 has a curved intermediate portion 30 and ends 32 which are adapted to contact the heads 26. The spring 28 extends between the pins 6 associated with each pair of side bars 4 with the ends 32 hearing on the heads 26 and its intermediate portion 30 extending through openings 22 and bearing on the inner side of the central web 20. As shown, there is a spring 28 bearing on each end of the pins 6 but in many instances only one such spring need be used with each pair of side bars 4.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

1. A chain comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced center links, each of said center links including a wall forming an enlongated opening, the ends of said wall being thicker than the intermediate portion thereof, a pair of side bars extending between and overlapping the ends of adjacent center links, each of said side bars having side walls with a notch therein adjacent each end and a central web connecting the side walls with an opening between said central web and each end of the side bar, a pin extending through the aligned openings in said side bars and center links, each of said pins having an elongated head on each end received in said notches, and a spring having one end bearing against one head of the pin at one end of a side link and extending therefrom through the openings in said side bar to the corresponding head of the pin at the other end of the same side link and bearing on the inner side of the central web.

2. A chain comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced center links, each of said center links including a vertical wall forming an elongated opening, the ends of said wall extending upwardly and downwardly beyond the intermediate portion thereof, a pair of side bars extending between and overlapping the ends of adjacent center links, each of said side bars having vertical side walls with a notch therein adjacent each end and a central Web connecting the side walls with a vertical opening between said central web and each end of the side bar, a vertical pin extending through the aligned openings in said side bars and center links, each of said pins having an elongated head on each end received in said notches, and a spring extending between and bearing on the heads of the pins associated with each side bar, said spring extending from said heads through the openings in said side bar and bearing on the side of said central web opposite the associated heads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

